The purpose of this wiki is to increase your tools for advocacy in the arts. In the current economic climate, each arts educator needs to be able to articulate the great value of arts instruction. Please review the following websites and respond on the discussion board to the 5 of the 7 questions listed below. Remember to identify yourself on the discussion board - name/school/content. [The discussion tab is directly above these instructions.]
Advocacy Websites
Americans for the Arts http://www.artsusa.org/
National Arts Education Awareness Campaign http://www.artsusa.org/public_awareness/default.asp Question 1 for discussion board - After reviewing the public awareness campaign and considering all the challenges you have experienced personally, how do we continue to share the story of the value of the arts? Do you agree with the approach the public awareness campaign is taking? Are there changes you would recommend that might work better for you?
Video of Arts Build Communities Congressional Hearing http://www.artsusa.org/news/afta_news/default.asp#item17 Question 3 for discussion board - After reviewing the testimonies of 3 of the 7 represented, write your own testimony that could be presented to our local school board.
United Arts Council of Raleigh/Wake County
Teacher Resources for the Arts http://www.unitedarts.org/artsed/teacherresources/index.shtml Question 4 for discussion board - After reviewing the resources available on the United Arts Council website - consider who our friends are - beyond our school system colleagues - identify one new "friend" you'd like to develop a relationship with that could promote the continuation of the arts in our schools.
Budget Reductions - Question 5
Recently, a teacher shared the concern of rumors about cuts in the arts - here's my response: Reductions are inevitable in this economy. There is no specific move to eliminate any programs across the district but electives are most susceptible because they are not part of the state tested curriculum. CTE electives are less vulnerable because schools get separate funding that has restrictions (positions cannot be converted & must be taught by CTE certified staff).
Principals are not targeting the arts or second languages specifically. They are desperately trying to provide a comprehensive curriculum based on their enrollment projections. Yesterday I spoke with a principal in Wake County that has been cut C&I months as well as ADM positions because the enrollment is down by 350 students. Those students are being moved to open a new school. The reductions that school are being forced to make are significant - devastating even - and the principal doesn't want to lose any of those elective teachers but without months of employment - the principal is forced to look to class enrollment to determine where the most students are being served - small classes are vulnerable.
The best thing we can do is to continue to provide exceptional programming that serves the needs of several students. Post # 5 - Craft a personal response and post to the discussion board- including what you are doing (and will continue to do) to provide exceptional programming that serves the needs of several students.
Question 7 - Additional Resources Please post additional resources/website, etc. and ideas for advocacy that you use - (for example - adding a quote at the bottom of your email signature line about the value of the arts)
Advocacy Websites
Americans for the Arts
http://www.artsusa.org/
National Arts Education Awareness Campaign
http://www.artsusa.org/public_awareness/default.asp
Question 1 for discussion board - After reviewing the public awareness campaign and considering all the challenges you have experienced personally, how do we continue to share the story of the value of the arts? Do you agree with the approach the public awareness campaign is taking? Are there changes you would recommend that might work better for you?
Arts Education Facts
http://www.artsusa.org/public_awareness/artsed_facts/001.asp
Question 2 for discussion board - Review the facts as listed. What type of data can you use from your classroom that would be compelling on a local level?
Video of Arts Build Communities Congressional Hearing
http://www.artsusa.org/news/afta_news/default.asp#item17
Question 3 for discussion board - After reviewing the testimonies of 3 of the 7 represented, write your own testimony that could be presented to our local school board.
United Arts Council of Raleigh/Wake County
Teacher Resources for the Arts
http://www.unitedarts.org/artsed/teacherresources/index.shtml
Question 4 for discussion board - After reviewing the resources available on the United Arts Council website - consider who our friends are - beyond our school system colleagues - identify one new "friend" you'd like to develop a relationship with that could promote the continuation of the arts in our schools.
Budget Reductions - Question 5
Recently, a teacher shared the concern of rumors about cuts in the arts - here's my response:
Reductions are inevitable in this economy. There is no specific move to eliminate any programs across the district but electives are most susceptible because they are not part of the state tested curriculum. CTE electives are less vulnerable because schools get separate funding that has restrictions (positions cannot be converted & must be taught by CTE certified staff).
Principals are not targeting the arts or second languages specifically. They are desperately trying to provide a comprehensive curriculum based on their enrollment projections. Yesterday I spoke with a principal in Wake County that has been cut C&I months as well as ADM positions because the enrollment is down by 350 students. Those students are being moved to open a new school. The reductions that school are being forced to make are significant - devastating even - and the principal doesn't want to lose any of those elective teachers but without months of employment - the principal is forced to look to class enrollment to determine where the most students are being served - small classes are vulnerable.
The best thing we can do is to continue to provide exceptional programming that serves the needs of several students.
Post # 5 - Craft a personal response and post to the discussion board- including what you are doing (and will continue to do) to provide exceptional programming that serves the needs of several students.
Question 6 - Daniel Pink - http://www.danpink.com/ author of A Whole New Mind & Drive
Watch his 2 minute video
http://vimeo.com/8480171
Post your 2 sentences to the discussion board
Question 7 - Additional Resources
Please post additional resources/website, etc. and ideas for advocacy that you use - (for example - adding a quote at the bottom of your email signature line about the value of the arts)